How can we attract the younger generations?

In my work with Church groups throughout the United States, one of the most consistent questions I hear is: “How can we attract the younger generations?”  My response is simple – listen to them.  We often think of listening as a passive exercise, but I encourage a far more active version.  Seek out younger Catholics and ask them what attracts them to Church – and what turns them off.  Be open to hearing answers that are different from your own.  But also look for the common ground; it's always there.  My experience has repeatedly demonstrated that there is a deep spiritual hunger among younger generations and that there are many things parishes can do attract them and make them feel welcome.  But it all starts with listening. 

Here is what I recommend for a more active approach to listening and dialogue

• Recruit Young Adults:  Often I hear people in parishes say:  “We announce opportunities to participate and no young adults come forward.”  This does not surprise me.  For a variety of reasons, many young adults are disengaged from the Church.  Getting them involved again is going to take more than generic announcements.  Its requires person-to-person contact.  You will find young adults much more responsive if you approach them and engage them in conversation, letting them know the needs of the parish and the ways you see they could help. 
   
• Consider offering a Sunday evening Mass:  Research suggests that as many as half of Catholics between the ages of 18-30 that attend Sunday Mass go to a Sunday evening Mass.  If your parish does not have one already, I highly recommend offering one, at least once a month.
   
• Host a young adult listening session:  Announce that parish leadership wants to hear from young adults and offer a 90 minute listening session that includes a meal.  You might offer it on a weeknight (from 6:00-7:30) or on Sunday after the last Mass.  Make sure the pastor attends – this signals that it is important.  Actively recruit young adults to attend.  Don't just put an announcement in the bulletin.  Seek out young adults and make a personal invitation.  And don't just invite “the usual suspects”, the young adults who are already heavily involved.  Look for people on the margins who you suspect might want to get more involved.  
  
  At the session, focus more on listening and less on talking.  Don't be defensive if the young adults critique certain aspects of parish life (liturgy, music, etc).  Remember, you are there to try to understand what is important to them.  Keep the focus on identifying things that parish can do to attract and welcome young adults.  Ask them what it is that would attract them and make them want to be more involved. 
   

• Recruit young adults into leadership:  Take a look at the ages of the members of your parish council, finance council, parish staff and other leadership groups.  Often the parishes I work with have leaders who are all over age 50 and who have served for lengthy tenures.  I recommend that parishes set a goal to have at least 25 percent of their leadership groups (parish council, finance council, parish staff, liturgy committee, etc) be people age 45 or under. Making such a shift won't happen overnight.  But you should be able to make significant progress on it in 12-18 months.
   
• Technology:  I put this last in my list because I think it is often overemphasized.  Creating a Facebook page for the parish will not magically draw young adults in droves.  Having said that, I recommend creating a technology task force for the parish  to strategize how to use technology well.  Young adults expect to be able to find all the information they need on a group on its website.  This includes mass schedules, religious education information, links to diocesan activities, etc.  And guess who you should look for to serve on technology task force?  You guessed it!  Young adults!  

A common pushback I often hear from older parishioners is: “Why should we have to do all of this for these young people?  They should just do this on their own!”  My response is simple:  “How well has that been working for you?”  For a variety of reasons, many young adults are not as engaged in our Church as we would like them to be.  If we want them to be, we have to be willing to make an effort. 

We will also have to shift our thinking.  The goal is not to just get young adults to “fit in” to our current model of Church, because that is clearly not working.  Rather, we have to ask how to create parishes in which young adults feel welcome and want to participate.  We know young adults are creative and talented.  Just imagine what the contribution to parish life would be if more of them were engaged and active!  But, our parishes would also look different.  And all of us have to ask ourselves whether we are willing to accept parishes that are different.  Or are we too wedded to our current comfort zones in parish life?

Of course, this does not mean simply catering to their every whim.  The challenge is to create vibrant parishes are true to our Catholic tradition where all are welcome.  That is a challenge worthy of every generation!

Dominic Perri is a facilitator and organizational development consultant who has worked with Catholic dioceses, presbyterates, religious communities, parishes, and national Church organizations throughout the United States.

Interested in learning more about ministering effectively to other generations, including the younger generations? Do you have questions that you would like to ask Dominic? Register for one or both of the Webinars listed in the yellow box above. There will be time for your questions at the end of each presentation.

Feed My Sheep Resources

June 18-19, 2009 may seem like ages ago, so here are a few reminders about what happened during the Feed My Sheep workshop, Age to Age – Ministering Effectively to the Generations in your Parish. Resources will be posted throughout the year to enable parish staffs to implement what was learned and what was identified as needing to be implemented. The resources will be varied: audio interviews with the presenters, brief articles, web sites and opportunities for networking with other parishes and staffs. Click on the photos on the left to enlarge.

Age to Age Ministering Effectively to Generations in Your Parish
Presentation by Dominic Perri (download resource - pdf)

The first resource is the presentation by Dominic Perri. Key in this resource is the content. Descriptions of the characteristics of each generation can be found here as well as the highlights of the strengths and weaknesses of each group. Personal and parish challenges are addressed and the ongoing commitment that is required.

Early in the presentation Dominic points out that individually we need to practice the virtues of “hope, humility, patience, courage, and wisdom” and parishes need to name what is central to their faith community and what is not.  A series of exercises are then offered for parish staff, parish leadership groups to help identify ways to be more welcoming to and to engage each generation in the worship and life of the parish.

“How the Different Generations View Church”
Presentation Notes (download resource - pdf)

The second resource, “How the Different Generations View Church,” is a summary of the notes from the morning small groups. These are self-descriptors; i.e., what each generation said about itself.  The notes are from four of the nine questions that were distributed and focus on the responses to what each generation looks for and is turned off by in a church/parish, their view of church, and what gifts they bring to church/parish life.

Download these resources from the June 2009 Workshop

• Workshop Presentation (pdf)
• Notes on "How Different Generations View Church" (pdf)

Feed My Sheep Audio Interview: A New Role for Parishioners The ongoing changes in parish life effect parishioners as well as parish leadership. There are times when the changes may seem overwhelming to some parishioners. In the midst of these realities, the Genesis story of creation reminds us of the creative presence of the Spirit of God. As we continue to nurture vibrant parish life, the role of parishioners and active participation in parish life are more significant than ever. In this conversation with Peter Denio, a presenter at the June 2009 Feed My Sheep workshop, Age to Age – Ministering Effectively to the Generations in your Parish, he talks with Mary Ellen Mahon, diocesan director for catechetical formation, about the changes in parish life and the signs of new life emerging in parishes across the country. Peter currently serves as Director of Pastoral Services at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York and works with parishes and dioceses throughout the United States. CLICK HERE to listen to Mary Ellen and Peter discuss the new roles for parishioners. Feed My Sheep Audio Interview: Peter Denio on the Changing Role of Parish Ministers Parish ministry has been changing and evolving for all involved: clergy, religious, lay ecclesial ministers and parishioners. As a church we have been prayerfully and faithfully seeking the presence and guidance of the Spirit in the midst of the emerging models of parish, parish leadership and ministry. We look to one another for support and encouragement and to gain wisdom from one another and from our experiences. Mary Ellen Mahon, diocesan director for catechetical formation, speaks with Peter Denio, a presenter at the June 2009 Feed My Sheep workshop, Age to Age – Ministering Effectively to the Generations in your Parish. Peter currently serves as Director of Pastoral Services at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York. He works with parishes and diocese throughout the United States. In this conversation Peter offers some insights about the changing role of parish ministers. CLICK HERE to listen to Mary Ellen and Peter discuss the changing role of parish ministers.   Feed My Sheep Audio Interview: Involving Busy Parishioners Sometimes people say they stopped going to Mass because they weren’t getting anything out of it or because they found it boring. Others may say they have so many other things to do during the week that Sunday is their day to sleep in or veg out. For some parish leaders these seem more like excuses rather than reasons for not participating in parish life, or more specifically, for not participating fully and actively in Mass. In this audio segment Peter Denio suggests two ways to address the reality of how to invite and involve parishioners with very busy schedules. Peter, Director of Pastoral Service at the National Pastoral Life Center, is one of three presenters for Part One of the Feed My Sheep workshop series, “Age to Age – Ministering Effectively to Generational Groups in your Parish.” In this audio segment Peter is speaking with Mary Ellen Mahon, diocesan director for catechetical formation. CLICK HERE to listen to Mary Ellen and Peter discuss how to involve busy parishioners. RECOMMENDED READING: Practical strategies to foster the faith-maturing process in our young people Peter Denio, director of Pastoral Services at the National Pastoral Life Center and the presenter for the June workshop, recommends an article from CHURCH magazine entitled “THE YOUNG CATHOLIC CHURCH: Roots and Wings” in preparation for participating in the workshop since it addresses key “myths that hamper effective pastoral ministry with young people” and offers “practical strategies and experiences to foster the faith-maturing process in our young people.”Click here for more information and to read the article.